Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Thousands rally to demand Algerian leader quits
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Weekend Edition
Africa
Europe
Latin America
Middle East
North America
Thousands rally to demand Algerian leader quits
AFP - Sunday, February 13
Send
IM Story
Print
ALGIERS (AFP) - – Up to 2,000 demonstrators evaded massed police Saturday to rally in a central Algiers square demanding that President Abdelaziz Bouteflika step down like the leaders of Egypt and Tunisia.
Ringed by hundreds of anti-riot forces, some carrying automatic weapons in addition to clubs and shields, they waved a large banner reading "Regime, out" and chanted slogans borrowed from the mass protests in Tunis and Cairo.
But police deployed in their thousands prevented a planned march from May 1 Square of some four kilometres (three miles) to Martyrs Square.
The demonstrators included both the head of the opposition Rally for Culture and Democracy (RCD), Said Sadi, and his one-time arch enemy Ali Belhadj, former leader of the now-banned Islamist Salvation Front.
A knot of police surrounded Sadi to prevent him using a loudhailer to address the crowd, while a number of arrests were made, journalists witnessed.
By the afternoon only some 150 mainly young protesters were left in a corner of the square still chanting defiantly.
But Fodil Boumala, one of the founders of the National Coordination for Change and Democracy (CNCD), which called the march, was jubilant.
"We've broken the wall of fear, this is only a beginning," he said, adding, "The Algerians have won back their capital."
There were scuffles with security forces and numerous arrests well before the march had been due to begin at 11:00 am (1000 GMT), witnesses said.
Authorities said 14 people had been held and then released but the head of the Algerian League for the Defence of Human Rights (LADDH), Mustapha Bouchachi, said there had been 300 arrests in Algiers and elsewhere.
"Some were freed but other are still being held," he said.
Those detained at least briefly included two RCD deputies, Othmane Maazouz and Feta Sadad, as well as Boumala of the CNCD.
Expressing outrage, Sadi also told AFP that 90-year-old veteran human rights campaigner Ali Yahia Abdelnour had been manhandled by police.
He said police had already violently dispersed a gathering on Friday of people celebrating Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak's downfall and made 10 arrests.
"It wasn't even an organised demonstration. It was spontaneous. It was an explosion of joy," he said.
From early Saturday, authorities took draconian measures against the planned protest with nearly 30,000 police deployed in the capital along the proposed route of the march.
Anti-riot vehicles and water cannon were seen ready for action near the square where it was scheduled to begin.
In the main western city of Oran, between 400 and 500 protestors also rallied Saturday for a demonstration which the opposition said had been banned by the authorities, though the interior ministry denied it.
A dozen arrests were made, an AFP correspondent said. They included the local CNCD leader and his son, two journalists and two mime artists with their faces whitened and black crosses on their lips.
The CNCD, an umbrella group of opposition parties, civil society movements and unofficial unions including the RCD and the LADDH, was set up only three weeks ago, emboldened by the mass protests in Tunisia and Egypt.
The CNCD is demanding the immediate end of Bouteflika's regime, citing the same problems of high unemployment, housing problems and soaring costs that inspired uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt.
Mounting grievances triggered riots in early January that left five dead and more than 800 injured.
A protest called by the CNCD in Algiers on January 22 left many injured as police blocked a march on parliament.
Like their north African counterparts, the protesters have used Facebook and text messages to spread their call for change.
Bouteflika has acted to curb price rises and promised political concessions, including pledging to lift a two-decade state of emergency, which the opposition says do not go far enough.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
14 killed in Mexico shoot-out, grenade attack AFP - 1 hour 3 minutes ago
Tehran will bar opposition rally-agency Reuters - 1 hour 13 minutes ago
UK-World Summary Reuters - 1 hour 14 minutes ago
Witness - Unlike Iraq, Egyptians do regime change their way Reuters - 1 hour 15 minutes ago
Police check 'mystery woman' in missing twins hunt AFP - 1 hour 23 minutes ago
News Search
Top Stories
Weber says he had 'minority' view on key issues
Iraq suicide bomber kills 27 Shiite pilgrims
Erik Guay claims ski world downhill gold
Greece blasts EU-IMF asset sale demand
Obama's high-speed rail faces political challenge
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
US golfer Woods finds old habits hard to shake
Russia loses military satellite: reports
US auto sales jump 17 percent in January
Dow closes over 12,000 for first time since June 2008
Egypt's Mubarak to step down at September election
More Most Viewed »
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Weekend Edition
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo!
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Entertainment
Photos
Yahoo! News Network
Copyright © 2011 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Sunday, 13 February 2011 Egypt's army commits to civilian rule and treaties
Could smartphones go stupid?
Egypt investigates officials
Weber says he had 'minority' view on key issues
Suicide bomber kills 38, wounds dozens in Iraq
Iraq suicide bomber kills 27 Shiite pilgrims
Protesters form council to defend Egypt revolution
Scores of bodies unearthed at Iraq grave site
Tehran will bar opposition rally
|
Thousands rally to demand Algerian leader quits
Suicide bomber kills 27 Shiite pilgrims in Iraq
Witness: Unlike Iraq, Egyptians do regime change their way
|
Taliban targets police in Afghan city killing 19
Pakistan court orders arrest of ex-president Musharraf
Nigeria presidential rally ends in deadly stampede
|
Kremlin sees Japan island talks 'losing meaning'
Spacey, Moore tackle financial crisis at Berlin fest
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Justin Bieber leads Friday box office with $12.4 million
Feel-good German film says multiculturalism not dead
Canada's Ice Hotel warms hearts
Justin Bieber leads Friday box office with $12.4 million
|
Gabourey Sidibe says enough perfect, pretty films
|
Feel-good German film says multiculturalism not dead
|
Streisand honored for music and charity work
|
Egypt military vows democracy after Mubarak's fall
Swiss to vote on keeping army weapons at home
Thousands rally to demand Algerian leader quits
Pandora hopes IPO a path to profit
Greece slams 'unacceptable' EU-IMF asset sale call
Airlift rescues abandoned LA chihuahuas
Egypt military rulers under pressure from protesters
|
Police check 'mystery woman' in missing twins hunt
U.S. President Obama calls fellow leaders on Egypt
Bing search gaining ground on Google: comScore
Nigeria presidential rally ends in deadly stampede
|
Protestors blow whistle on Berlusconi premiership
Security main priority of Egyptian government
Tehran will bar opposition rally-agency
Witness
U.S. calls on Syria to release young blogger
Five Islamist gunmen dead in Philippine clash: army
China, US onlookers at cricket's big bash
Malaysian Muslims warned against Valentine's Day
New Zealand down fighting Ireland
Plus-sized athletes to US first lady: Fat can be fit
China's railway minister accused in graft probe
Julie Andrews, Ramones receive lifetime Grammys
Vast India census may help direct aid to poorest
Pictures and paintings to save Bucharest historic district
For Colombia growers, Valentine's coming up roses
Gabourey Sidibe says enough "perfect, pretty" films
Feel-good German film says multiculturalism not dead
Japan JPMorgan workers 'didn't declare $8.4 mln'
Tony Fernandes 'rejects' Lotus Formula One offer
India's Anil Ambani group says officials probed over 2G scam
Julie Andrews, Ramones receive lifetime Grammys
|
Egypt cabinet to stay for transition period
Swiss vote to keep army guns at home
EU, IMF 'regret' Greek furore over asset sale call
Egyptian army corrals protesters to reopen Tahrir
Russia's VTB bank sale to reap $3.25 billion: report
US postpones talks with Afghanistan, Pakistan
Yemeni police block protesters' march on palace
|
Death toll rises to 48 in Iraq suicide bombing
|
Death toll from Iraqi suicide attack rises to 33
Israeli cabinet approves new army chief
|
Palestinian PM confident of Egypt's future support
Italian women protest over Berlusconi sex scandal
|
Bangladeshi govt on food alert
Maliki fills power, trade and other Iraq cabinet jobs
|
PAD defies police order to clear out of roads
Iran pressures opposition ahead of planned rally
|
Sudanese women call for release of sons and protesters
|
Opinion: Shameful days
Nearly 1,000 Tunisian migrants reach Italy overnight
|
Tunisian foreign minister resigns: report
|
FBR collects $9 b in 7 months
Displaced villagers at Thai border return home
Cambodia to shun bilateral dialogue
Indonesian govt urges restraint over calls to ban Ahmadiyah
S.Korea firms win $2.5 bln order from Saudi
Pakistan former president's arrest warrant issued
Smartphone makers to woo developers in Barcelona
|
South Korea household debt rises in 2010
Nokia surrenders and enlists Microsoft in smartphone war
|
Thai CPN joint venture to open mall in China
Inequality growing in Pakistan due to corruption: CJ
China to vet foreign M&A deals 'for national security'
Eminem hoping to avoid another Grammys shocker
|
French animator brings 3D magic to Berlin festival
|
US Internet censorship fight falling short: report
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights